Sodium and potassium intakes of the U.S. adult population age 18 years and older National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999-2000 and 2001-2002 /

by Cogley DiTommaso, Jessica L.

Abstract (Summary)

Dr. Younghee Kim, advisor
High sodium and low potassium intakes have been linked to hypertension. Americans
consume higher than recommended amounts of sodium and lower than recommended amounts
of potassium. The new dietary reference intake (DRI) values for sodium are 1500 mg/day for
men and women ages 19-50 years, 1300 mg/day for men and women ages 50 to 70 years of
age, and 1200 mg/day for men and women
>
70 years of age. The very first DRI for potassium
is set at 4700 mg/day of potassium for both men and women
>
18 years of age.
The data of 6,135 persons aged 18 years and older from NHANES 1999-2000 and 2001-
2002 were analyzed in this study to assess sodium and potassium intakes of Americans. The
variables were gender, age, ethnicity, annual household income, education level, and body
mass index (BMI). The statistical software, SUDAAN was used to control the weights of the
samples, and least square of means were calculated to control the confounding factors.
The mean daily sodium intakes (mean ± SEM) for White male, Black male, Mexican male
and White female, Black female and Mexican female were 4253±59, 3760±81, 3678±95,
3008±59, 2828±93, 2704±50 mg/day, respectively, and the mean potassium intakes were
3338±51, 2673±56, 3017±67, 2477±50, 2064±55, 2336±45 mg/day, respectively. The
percentage of people consuming less than the recommended amount of sodium, 1500 mg/day,
for white male, Black male, Mexican male and White female, Black female and Mexican female
were 4.9%, 11.3%, 9.6%, 12.4%, 20.4%, 17.8%, respectively, and the percentage of people
consuming more than the recommended amount of potassium, 4700 mg/day, were 15.7%,
10.1%, 12.5%, 3.6%, 2.3%, 3.2%, respectively. The intakes of sodium and potassium of
Americans were significantly higher and lower than the recommended amounts, and there were
significant differences with regard to gender and ethnicity.
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